The 2010 Bowl Season continues on January 4th and the pros at FiveStarPick.com are working overtime to analyze the  Fiesta Bowl between the TCU Horned Frogs and the Boise State Broncos.  Las Vegas Sportsbooks list  TCU as 7.5-point favorites with a total of 55.

TCU (12-0 straight up, 8-3 against the spread) believed they would have a shot at the National Title game with a Texas loss, but they fell behind the Bearcats in the final BCS standings.

Boise State (13-0 SU, 8-4 Against The Spread) is looking to pick up its second BCS victory.  The Broncos averaged 42 ppg over their last seven wins this season and covered spreads as high as 30-points twice. The Broncos have an offensive line that has given up the fewest sacks in the nation (5) and their offensive unit leads the FBS in scoring (44.2 points per game). That kind of protection has allowed QB Kellen Moore to complete 65 percent of his passes for 3,325 yards, 39 touchdowns and only three interceptions.  Moore is tops in the nation in quarterback rating (167.4).

Boise State’s O Line doesn’t just prevent sacks, they also provide the blocking for the 20th most productive ground game in the nation (194.5 Rushing YPG). Their two stud running backs help as well.  Jeremy Avery has rushed for 1,131 yards and six scores, while Doug Martin has 723 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Last year these two teams met in the Poinsettia Bowl where TCU came away with a 17-16 win as a 3.5-point favorite. The Broncos were only able to muster 250 yards of total offense in that game, so Boise State will need to watch a lot of film and learn from last year’s mistakes to come away with a win in the Fiesta Bowl.

Texas Christian has one of the elite defenses in the country.  The Horned Frogs are 3rd in the country against the run (80.5 YPG) and 4th in the country defending the pass (152.8 YPG).  Their defensive line is averaging 2.7 sacks per game and TCU defensive end Jerry Hughes leads the nation with 11 ½ sacks.

TCU’s offense has playmakers too.  The Horned Frogs ranked 4th in the country in yards per game (469.1) this year. QB Andy Dalton was the Mountain West Conference’s Offensive Player of the Year completing 62 percent of his passes for 2,484 yards, 22 touchdowns and a passer rating of 159.6.

Dalton also has a good running game behind him.  The TCU rushing unit ranks 5th in the nation (256.5 YPG) on the ground behind 4 running backs.  Joseph Turner leads that crew with 732 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns.

Now let’s talk trends…The Broncos have been dogs only 7 times in the last 5 years going 2-4-1 Against The Spread in those meetings. TCU is 34-15 Against The Spread as a favorite under Gary Patterson. The Horned Frogs are 5-2 Against The Spread in the postseason since 2002. Boise State is 3-2 Against The Spread in its last five bowls appearances. TCU is 18-9 Against The Spread dating back to 1996 against the WAC, while Boise State is 4-0 Against The Spread in its 4 games as a dog against the Mountain West.

If you are wondering who will cover the spread in the Fiesta Bowl, try FiveStarPick.com and eliminate the guesswork. For only $19.99 you can test us out and see if our talent for picking college and pro football winners exceeds your expectations.  We are the only sports handicapping service in the business who documents wins and losses and displays them on our homepage for all to witness.  It’s because we have nothing to hide…we just win games against the spread.  Join our family today and start your winning streak tonight.

Rick Riley – FiveStarPick.com

The pros at FiveStarPick.com are coming off a tough win last night as we gave our members East Carolina +13.5.  Even though the Pirates only scored 3-points for the game, it was just enough to cover the spread as VaTech won the decision 16-3.  Tonight we are giving our members the Total in the Boise State/Louisiana Tech game.  Las Vegas sportsbooks list the Broncos as 21-point road favorites with a total of 50.

Tonight’s game will be Boise State’s 3rd road game in four weeks.  The Broncos played at Tulsa on Oct. 14, then Hawaii on Oct. 24. Last week the Broncos captured a 45-7 victory over San Jose St. as 36 ½-point favorites and now they travel to Ruston, Louisiana for what could be a let down game in LA Tech.  Boise St. has been dominant all year, winning six of their seven games by 17 points or more. They have covered the spread in every game except one, a 28-21 win at Tulsa as 9 ½-point road favorites.

Sophomore quarterback Kellen Moore has completed 67.1 percent of his passes for 1,905 yards with an incredible 24/2 touchdown-interception ratio. Moore has a pair of favorite targets in Austin Pettis and Titus Young, both have 41 catches apiece. Pettis has 553 receiving yards and 9 touchdown, while Young has 495 receiving yards and 7 TDs.  Jeremy Avery balances the attack for the Broncos with 636 rushing yards on 112 carries, averaging 5.7 yards per carry.

Louisiana Tech (3-5 straight up, 3-4 against the spread) started out 2008 by beating Mississippi St. at home, but then lost at Auburn 37-14 and then Navy the following week 32-14.  We did give our members LA Tech -2.5 at home over Hawaii which they covered easily with 27-6 home win. Since then, the Bulldogs have lost three of their four games, including last week’s 35-34 loss at Idaho.

Louisiana Tech’s two dynamic playmakers, RB Daniel Porter and WR Phillip Livas are listed as “questionable” for tonight’s game.  Porter left last week’s game with a concussion, while Livas has a high ankle sprain.  Porter has a team-high 640 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns. Also, starting MLB Adrien Cole is listed as “doubtful” after suffering a concussion at Idaho, while OLB Brian White (ankle) is “questionable.”

When these teams last faced each other in 2008, Boise St. easily took the cash in a 38-3 home win as a 24-point favorite.  In BSU’s last trip to Ruston, they won 45-31, but La. Tech took the cash as a 15-point home underdog.  The Bulldogs have lost seven in a row to the Broncos by an average of 26 points per game.

This game is not an easy game to handicap, but the pros at FiveStarPick.com have broken down every stat, trend, injury report and weather forcast on this game to provide our members with a winning play.  Try FiveStarPick.com today for only ($19.99) and see if our talent for picking college and pro football winners exceeds your expectations.  We are the only sports handicapping service in the business that documents our wins and losses, then displays them on our homepage for all to see.  It’s because we have nothing to hide…we just win games against the spread.  Join our family today and start your winning streak tonight.

Rick Riley – FiveStarPick.com

The pros at FiveStarPick.com are back in action tonight coming off a much need night off. It is always good to take a breather after a stellar 9-0 against the spread run for our members. Tonight we are hot on the Boise State/Tulsa game aired on ESPN. Las Vegas sportsbooks opened the Broncos as 8-point favorites. Now most books have bumped the Broncos to 9 or 9.5.

Since taking over for Dan Hawkins, Chris Petersen picked up where Dan left off as the Broncos have won 40 of 44 games, compiling a 25-15 against the spread record. The Broncos opened the season with a 19-8 home win over Oregon, followed by a 48-0 crushing of Miami (OH.) as 40-point home favorites. BSU went on the road in Weeks 3 and 4, beating Fresno St. (51-34) and Bowling Green (49-14).

Tulsa (4-1 SU, 2-1-1 against the spread) is coming off a 27-10 win at Rice as a 17-point road favorite.  QB G.J. Kinne completed 21-of-32 passes for 251 yards and no interceptions. 

The Texas transfer has a competion percentage of 64.1% for 1,142 yards with a 10/2 touchdown-interception ratio.  Kinne struggled at Oklahoma in a 45-0 loss. He threw two interceptions against the Sooners and had just 106 passing yards.  Damaris Johnson is the Tulsa’s premier playmaker with a team-high 20 receptions for 369 yards and one TD. Johnson had 245 yards of total offense against Rice and returned a punt for a score in their win at Tulane.

Boise State sophomore QB Kellen Moore has been awesome in the spread offense completing 69.7 percent of his throws for 1,217 yards with a 13/2 TD-INT ratio.  He loves to throw the ball to Austin Pettis, who has 28 receptions for 378 yards and six touchdowns.  Jeremy Avery is carrying BSU’s rushing load, gaining 441 yards on 72 carries. He’s averaging 6.1 yards per carry with one touchdown.

Now let’s talk trends… Since 2003, Tulsa owns a 6-2 against the spread record as a home dog.  Boise St. is already 2-0 against the spread as a road favorite this year. The Broncos went 4-1 against the spread last year as road favorites.

Now let’s talk injuries…Tulsa’s free safety Charles Davis is out for the season (knee) and Boise State’s OT Tyler Holmes is out indefinately (broken leg).

So who covers the spread tonight?  It’s very easy to find out.  Try FiveStarPick.com tonight for only ($19.99) and see if our talent for picking college and pro football winners exceeds your expectations.  We are the only sports handicapping service in the business who documents wins and losses and displays them on our homepage for all to see.  It’s because we have nothing to hide…we just win games against the spread.  Join our family today and start your winning streak tonight.

Rick Riley – FiveStarPick.com